Oxacillin

What Is Oxacillin?

Oxacillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body.

Oxacillin is used to treat many different types of infections caused by bacteria, such as a staphylococcal (also called "staph") infection.

Oxacillin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to oxacillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil), ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen), carbenicillin (Geocillin), dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen), penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids), and others.

Before using oxacillin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to cephalosporins such as Ceclor, Ceftin, Duricef, Keflex, and others, or if you have asthma, liver disease, kidney disease, or a history of any type of allergy.

Oxacillin can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Before taking oxacillin, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Oxacillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Do not share this medication with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to oxacillin or to any other penicillin antibiotic, such as:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Oxacillin Interactions

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Before taking oxacillin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall); or

probenecid (Benemid).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with oxacillin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Oxacillin Dosage

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take the medicine with a full glass of water.

Oxacillin should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating a meal.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Oxacillin will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Do not share oxacillin with another person, even if they have the same symptoms you have.

This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using oxacillin.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, behavior changes, a severe skin rash, urinating less than usual, or seizure (black-out or convulsions).

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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